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Book Iii. Canto Xxxvii. M'ar'icha's Speech

Canto Xxxvii.: Mrcha'S Speech.


Mrcha gave attentive ear

The ruler of the fiends to hear:

Then, trained in all the rules that teach

The eloquent, began his speech:

'Tis easy task, O King, to find

Smooth speakers who delight the mind.

But they who urge and they who do

Distasteful things and wise, are few.

Thou hast not learnt, by proof untaught,

And borne away by eager thought,

That Rma, formed for high emprise,

With Varun or with Indra vies.

Still let thy people live in peace,

Nor let their name and lineage cease,

For Rma with his vengeful hand

Can sweep the giants from the land.

0, let not Janak's daughter bring

Destruction on the giant king.

Let not the lady St wake

A tempest, on thy head to break.

Still let the dame, by care untried,

Be happy by her husband's side,

Lest swift avenging ruin fall

On glorious Lank, thee, and all.

Men such as thou with wills unchained,

Advised by sin and unrestrained,

Destroy themselves, the king, the state,

And leave the people desolate.

Rma, in bonds of duty held,

Was never by his sire expelled.

He is no wretch of greedy mind,

Dishonour of his Warrior kind.

Free from all touch of rancorous spite,

All creatures' good is his delight.

He saw his sire of truthful heart

Deceived by Queen Kaikey's art,

And said, a true and duteous son,

'What thou hast promised shall be done.'

To gratify the lady's will,

His father's promise to fulfil,

He left his realm and all delight

For Dandak wood, an anchorite.

No cruel wretch, no senseless fool

Is Rma, unrestrained by rule.

This groundless charge has ne'er been heard,

Nor shouldst thou speak the slanderous word.

Rma in truth and goodness bold

Is Virtue's self in human mould,

The sovereign of the world confessed

As Indra rules among the Blest.

And dost thou plot from him to rend

The darling whom his arms defend?

Less vain the hope to steal away

The glory of the Lord of Day.

p. 273

O
Rvan, guard thee from the fire

Of vengeful Rma's kindled ire,--

Each spark a shaft with deadly aim,

While bow and falchion feed the flame.

Cast not away in hopeless strife

Thy realm, thy bliss, thine own dear life.

O Rvan of his might beware,

A God of Death who will not spare.

That bow he knows so well to draw

Is the destroyer's flaming jaw,

And with his shafts which flash and glow

He slays the armies of the foe.

Thou ne'er canst win--the thought forego--

From the safe guard of shaft and bow

King Janak's child, the dear delight

Of Rma unapproached in might.

The spouse of Raghu's son, confessed

Lion of men with lion chest,--

Dearer than life, through good and ill

Devoted to her husband's will,

The slender-waisted, still must be

From thy polluting touches free.

Far better grasp with venturous hand

The flame to wildest fury fanned.

What, King of giants, canst thou gain

From this attempt so wild and vain?

If in the fight his eye he bend

Upon thee, Lord, thy days must end.

So life and bliss and royal sway,

Lost beyond hope, will pass away.

Summon each lord of high estate,

And chief, Vibhshan 1 to debate.

With peers in lore of counsel tried

Consider, reason, and decide

Scan strength and weakness, count the cost,

What may be gained and what be lost.

Examine and compare aright

Thy proper power and Rma's might,

Then if thy weal be still thy care.

Thou wilt be prudent and forbear.

O giant King, the contest shun,

Thy force is all too weak

The lord of Kosl's mighty son

In deadly fray to seek.

King of the hosts that rove at night,

O hear what I advise:

My prudent counsel do not slight;

Be patient and be wise.'

Footnotes

273:1
'The younger brother of the giant Rvan; when he and his brother had practiced austerities for a long series of years, Brahm appeared to offer them boons: Vibhshana asked that he might never meditate any unrighteousness....
On the death of Rvan Vibhshana was installed as Rja of Lank.' GARRETT'S
"Classical Dictionary of India".
latin sayings thrice greatest herme| latin sayings thrice greatest herme
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